Taylor Alison Swift was born in Reading, PA, and spent her childhood in her father’s Christmas tree farm. Her interest in music started at a young age, inspired by her grandmother, Marjorie Finlay, who was a professional Opera singer. By the age of 9, Swift was already performing at local productions and events and learned vocal and acting lessons in NYC. Not long after, she learned to play the guitar and began to write her own songs. At age 14, she moved with her family to Nashville, TN, so that she can pursue a career in country music. Two years later, she released her debut single “Tim McGraw.” At 19, Swift had released her second album “Fearless” and became the highest-selling country artist of the year as well as the youngest artist to win the Grammy Award for “Album of the Year.” In the following years, she has released two more albums – “Speak Now” and “Red,” for both she received multiple awards and recognition. Only 23 years old, Swift was ranked by Forbes magazine as the highest-paid celebrity under 30, with earnings of $57 million. Over time, Swift, who began her career as a country musician, became more pop-focused, as reflected in her 5th album “1989,” which includes the #1 hits “Shake It Off” and “Blank Space.” For this album, she won the Grammy Award both for “Album of the Year” and “Best Pop Vocal Album.” A few days before the release of her 6th album, “Reputation,” the track-list was leaked. Swift’s response was to post the complete 15 songs list on her Instagram page. Eventually, the album was the top-selling album of that year. Her tremendous success was accompanied not only by talent and hard work but also with an image of a “good girl.” Then, a memorable moment happened in 2009 when while she was attempted to accept her VMA award for Best Video by a Female Artist, Kanye West stormed the stage and told her that “Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time.” She shook herself up and worked even harder, determent to rise to superstar status. Another turning point in her life and career happened after winning a sexual assault lawsuit against former radio host. Swift deserted the “good girl” position and started to speak her mind, sharing her social and political beliefs with her millions of fans. By 2018 she was described by the media as a political animal, interviewing on behalf of Democrats in a midterm election in her home state of Tennessee. Since then, in addition to being a super successful musician with many records and “Firsts,” Swift is also known as a philanthropist, human rights activist, a gender equality activist, and an advocate for LGBTQ rights. She founded an education center at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville and donated money for various causes, such as children protection, and legal defense for women who’s been assaulted. Read more...

Lula Clay spent her childhood in Johnson City, Tennessee. At age 17, she married Charles Naff, who died a few years later. At 25, a widow raising an infant daughter, she registered to business school. Three days after graduation, she found a job as a stenographer at a local talent agency. Over time she got promoted to a secretary, and when the company relocated to Nashville, she followed it and moved there. At the age of 39, she was appointed as the operator of the agency. Naff was familiar with the Ryman Auditorium, back then mostly a religious venue, and she recognized its potential as an entertainment hall. In a time when women didn’t have the right to vote, Naff leased the auditorium for the acts of the talents at the agency, and after the agency dissolved and she became an independent agent, she took a risk and leased the entire building. Over time, she gained a reputation as an agent and booked some of the biggest names in music, Opera, theater, and entertainment. In 1920, the venue was taken over by the Ryman Auditorium Improvement Association, and she was appointed to the manager of the auditorium, a position she served for 35 years, and that she was the first woman to hold. Under her management, she expended the purpose of the venue, branching out to different kinds of entertainment, including boxing matches, political debates, and livestock auctions. The auditorium hosted the best performers of the era, such as Harry Houdini, Katharine Hepburn, Ethel Barrymore, and Will Rogers. After more than 50 years working with the Ryman, 80 years old Naff retired. She passed away 5 years later.   Read more...